My review of the new Terminator 2D No FATE game based on the classic 1991 movie. This is the 2D retro styled run ‘n’ gun game that Bitmap Bureau wishes would have come out back in the day.
More info: https://www.terminator2d.com
Terminator 2 has the vibe of a chrome-plated summer thunderstorm that decided to develop a personality. Its appeal begins with the T-800, who evolves from “murderous toaster with legs” to “surly robo-dad trying very hard to understand why humans cry instead of just rebooting.” The movie gives you molten-metal anxiety, Harley-revving bravado, and the warm glow of knowing your savior is a grumpy machine whose negotiation skills rely on sunglasses and a shotgun the size of a rolled-up mattress.
Then there’s the T-1000, a shape-shifting puddle of weaponized mercury who glides around like your reflection decided it was tired of your life choices and took over. Watching this villain chase a teenager through malls, freeways, and steel mills is half action spectacle, half existential question: if liquid metal can run faster than a truck, what chance do your errands have? The whole film becomes a kinetic sermon on destiny, family, and the importance of not inventing killer robots before lunch, wrapped in an action feast that still hums like a neon jukebox on the edge of the apocalypse.
Saddle up, partner — Outlaws + Handful of Missions Remaster just rode back into town looking sharper than a cactus in 4K at 60 frames per yeehaw. The once grainy gunslingers are now high-resolution heroes, with weapons, characters, and varmints all glammed up using archived art and the full rainbow of color palettes — because even outlaws deserve to look fabulous.
The cutscenes? Completely uncompressed, like your uncle’s opinions about modern gaming.
And for those looking to prove they’re the fastest clicker in the West, there’s Cross-Play Multiplayer — featuring Deathmatch, Team Play, Capture the Flag, and the legendary Kill The Fool With The Chicken, a mode that’s exactly as ridiculous and glorious as it sounds.
Ride again, cowboy — but this time, in HD glory.
Wreckreation is what happens when Burnout Paradise eats a bag of sugar, watches too much Jackass, and gets handed the keys to a sandbox the size of a small country.
Imagine you’re dropped into an open world where not only can you drive ridiculously fast, but you can also build the track mid-race — like some caffeinated construction worker with no concept of safety codes. You want a ramp that launches you over a volcano into a loop-de-loop made of pure regret? Done. You want traffic, weather, and explosions all at once? Congratulations, you’ve just invented Monday morning rush hour.
The game’s premise is simple: drive fast, crash hard, and decorate the map like a kid who’s been left alone with infinite Hot Wheels pieces and no adult supervision. Your goal isn’t just to win — it’s to humiliate gravity, confuse physics, and make your friends question your sanity.
In short: Wreckreation is less “racing simulator” and more “chaos engine wearing a seatbelt.” You’re not just in the driver’s seat — you built the driver’s seat, strapped fireworks to it, and now you’re seeing what happens when you hit the nitro.
I had a good time hanging w/ Tito from MachoNachoMedia. We hung out in my game room & I showed him the Xbox prototype desk light given to Microsoft employees.
The Xbox is the gigantic, neon-lit refrigerator of the gaming world—massive, powerful, and somehow always humming in the living room like it’s plotting to overtake your entertainment center. Microsoft built it with one philosophy in mind: “More power. Also… would you like Game Pass with that?”
Owning an Xbox means having access to more games than you could play in three lifetimes, but still scrolling for 45 minutes before saying, “Eh… I’ll just replay Halo again.” And if you do play Halo, you instinctively slam your fists on the controller like it’s 2007 and Master Chief personally requires your emotional support.
Sure, the naming conventions are a fever dream (Xbox One, One X, Series X, Series S, X-but-not-that-X), but that’s part of the charm. Xbox is the platform that says, “We know you’re confused, but here—play everything ever made, in 4K, at 120fps. And seriously… just get Game Pass.”
Here are the Top 20 best-selling original Xbox games—back when consoles were chunky, multiplayer meant sitting on the same couch, and blowing on discs didn’t actually help (but we did it anyway). Sales figures are approximate worldwide totals.
🥇 1. Halo: Combat Evolved (Sales: ~6.43 million)
Why it sold: It single-handedly justified buying the Xbox and made “sticky grenades” a part of our vocabulary. Master Chief carried Microsoft harder than Clippy ever did
🥈 2. Halo 2 (Sales: ~8.49 million)
Why it sold: Because Halo 1 was great—and now you could teabag strangers online! Xbox Live was born, and suddenly, kids were yelling “NOOB” into $19.99 headsets.
🥉 3. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (Sales: ~6 million)
Why it sold: Gamers love sneaking around in the dark—Sam Fisher crouched more than most of us do at the gym. It was like Solid Snake with night vision and a grudge.
4. Fable (Sales: ~3 million)
Why it sold: You could fart in public and grow devil horns—what more could a gamer want? Also, Peter Molyneux’s promises were worth at least 2 million sales.
5. Project Gotham Racing 2 (Sales: ~2.5 million)
Why it sold: Because it was racing, but classy. Style mattered more than speed. Finally, a game for people who like parallel parking with flair.
6. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) (Sales: ~2.3 million)
Why it sold: Star Wars, but with moral choices and the ability to ruin your relationships by turning Sith. Darth Revan > any movie twist since.
7. Dead or Alive 3 (Sales: ~2 million)
Why it sold: Let’s be honest—people came for the “jiggle physics” and stayed for the surprisingly decent fighting mechanics. A staple of awkward dorm rooms everywhere.
8. Forza Motorsport (Sales: ~1.5 million)
Why it sold: Microsoft’s answer to Gran Turismo, but more forgiving. Also, you could put tribal flames on a Toyota Corolla and race it like a champ.
9. Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack (GTA III + Vice City) (Sales: ~1.5 million)
Why it sold: Two games, one disk, endless mayhem. Who needs a storyline when you can drive a tank through Miami while listening to 80s synth pop?
10. Counter-Strike (Sales: ~1.5 million)
Why it sold: Console CS! Terrorists vs. Counter-Terrorists—and someone yelling “go B!” while holding the bomb. PC fans scoffed, Xbox fans sprayed and prayed.
11. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Sales: ~1.4 million)
Why it sold: You could become the chosen one… after spending 2 hours trying to figure out how to leave the starting town. Combat felt like swinging a pool noodle, but we loved it.
12. Need for Speed: Underground 2 (Sales: ~1.4 million)
Why it sold: Because street racing + neon lights + a Bangin’ soundtrack = pure gold. Also, car customization made us all feel like Vin Diesel’s unpaid interns.
13. Madden NFL 06 (Sales: ~1.3 million)
Why it sold: It’s Madden. It sells no matter what. You could swap the year and no one would notice—except maybe the new haircut on the cover athlete.
14. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (Sales: ~1.2 million)
Why it sold: Because sometimes you want to be tactical, not run-and-gun. Also because Tom Clancy had a 10-game-a-year quota.
15. Ninja Gaiden (Sales: ~1.2 million)
Why it sold: Pain. Pure, glorious pain. This game handed you your butt on a katana and asked you to thank it.
16. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (Sales: ~1.2 million)
Why it sold: You couldn’t skate IRL, but here you could grind a roller coaster. The soundtrack also doubled as your personality in high school.
17. The Simpsons: Hit & Run (Sales: ~1.2 million)
Why it sold: Like GTA, but with donuts. And yelling. And way fewer lawsuits. This game gave us chaos with a side of D’oh!
18. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (Sales: ~1.1 million)
Why it sold: Air combat + pulp fiction vibes = criminally underrated. Plus, nothing says “cool” like shooting planes with a joystick that clicks.
19. SoulCalibur II (Sales: ~1 million)
Why it sold: Fighting with swords, a guest appearance by Spawn, and enough flair to make a Renaissance fair blush.
20. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Sales: ~1 million)
Why it sold: Cops, speed, BMWs, and that Blacklist. Running from the law never felt so cinematic—or so full of slow-motion crashes.
Xbox is teaming up with Antstream to bring classic Activision titles to Game Pass. Atari 2600, MS-DOS, SNES, PS1 & More. Here are my first impressions!
The Xbox is like that one overly enthusiastic friend who shows up to game night with a cooler full of energy drinks, a 4K TV strapped to their back, and the unshakable confidence of someone who’s never actually beaten Elden Ring. Born in 2001 with the original Xbox (a console roughly the size of a small microwave), Microsoft decided it was time to crash Sony and Nintendo’s party—armed with Halo, a terrifying amount of marketing dollars, and a logo that looked like it was ripped straight from a Mountain Dew commercial. And somehow, it worked. Xbox became a household name, partly because of its powerful hardware, and partly because gamers couldn’t stop yelling profanities into their Xbox Live headsets at complete strangers. A true bonding experience.
Over the years, Xbox evolved from a bulky console that sounded like a jet engine to a sleek black monolith (Xbox Series X) that now lives in living rooms like some kind of digital obelisk. It’s embraced the “Netflix of gaming” model with Game Pass, letting players gorge on hundreds of titles for less than the cost of a large pizza. Xbox even started cozying up to PC gamers, no longer insisting on console exclusivity like an overprotective partner. Today, Xbox isn’t just a brand—it’s a lifestyle, a subscription service, and possibly your child’s best friend (or worst influence). In short: Xbox is the lovable tech bro of the gaming world—loud, flashy, and always ready to drop a nuke in Call of Duty.
Being an adult w/ responsibilities means you rarely have enough time for video games. If you only have a short window for gaming, here are some great options you can pick up and play in quick sessions. WATCH >> https://youtu.be/CBtVRkBTMqI?si=_ukqJfon4sm6ELU8 – What SHORT GAMES do you recommend?
If you’re short on time but still want to get a solid gaming fix, here are five great games to play.
1. Vampire Survivors – The “Just One More Run” Trap
This game is perfect for short bursts of chaotic fun… until you realize “just one more run” has stolen an hour of your life. You move, the game auto-attacks, and enemies swarm at you like you owe them money. It’s the most relaxing stress-inducing game ever.
2. Hades – Speedrunning Through Hell
You play as Zagreus, son of Hades, who’s just trying to escape the Underworld. Runs can be quick, making it great for short sessions—except, oops, you died and now you want to try one more time because THIS TIME you totally won’t get hit by that one boss again. Spoiler: you will.
3. Slay the Spire – “I’ll Just Play One More Card” Syndrome
A roguelike deck-building game where you strategize your way up a tower. “Oh, I’ll just do one quick run” turns into deep contemplation about whether to take the relic that makes you immune to curses but also removes all your gold. Fast-paced… if you’re decisive, which you won’t be.
4. Rocket League – Five-Minute Matches (That Destroy Friendships)
A soccer game, but with rocket-powered cars. Matches are short, but the emotional damage from your teammate whiffing an easy shot will last a lifetime. You either feel like an unstoppable pro or a complete disaster—there is no in-between.
5. Tetris Effect: Connected – The Zen You Didn’t Ask For
Tetris, but with hypnotic visuals and music that makes stacking blocks feel like a spiritual journey. Great for a quick game… unless you enter The Zone and wake up 45 minutes later realizing you’ve ascended to a higher plane of existence.
Short on time? These games have you covered… just don’t blame me when “five minutes” turns into “where did my evening go?”
Obsidian Entertainment have made some amazing games….and others that were probably released a bit before they should have been.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords (2004)
This sequel cranked up the existential crisis, filled it with cut content, and made us question everything we knew about Star Wars morality.
Neverwinter Nights 2 (2006)
An RPG where you collect weirdos, bicker with them, and somehow save the world—classic Obsidian. Also, that stronghold management? Peak real estate simulator.
Alpha Protocol (2010) What if Jason Bourne had dialogue options that made people hate him instantly? A spy RPG where your greatest weapon is awkward small talk (and also guns). Woefully unbalanced in some of the boss fights unfortunately, so follow a guide if you play it today!
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
The greatest argument for why gambling should always be a dialogue skill. Also known as “The Best Fallout Game (Don’t Argue)”.
Dungeon Siege III (2011)
The Dungeon Siege game that no one remembers, including Dungeon Siege fans. It existed, and that’s what matters.
South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)
An RPG where your weaponized flatulence determines the fate of an entire town. Highbrow humor at its finest.
Pillars of Eternity (2015) Baldur’s Gate, but make it so Obsidian it hurts. Deep lore, tactical combat, and enough text to qualify as a novel.
Armored Warfare (2015)
Obsidian making a World of Tanks competitor? Sure, why not. Unfortunately, it tanked (pun intended).
Tyranny (2016)
What if you played an RPG where you’re already working for the bad guys? Basically, middle management simulator but with more fireballs.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (2018)
Everything you loved about the first game, but now on boats. Also, you can be besties with a talking ghost pig.
The Outer Worlds (2019)
Fallout in space, but with even more corporate satire. Where your biggest decision isn’t good vs. evil, but which megacorp is the least terrible. They released a The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition with improved graphics, all the patches and add-on missions. Great game!
Grounded (2022) Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The Game! Survival mechanics, terrifying spiders, and realizing that ladybugs are actually hardcore.
Pentiment (2022) What if an illuminated manuscript was a murder mystery? A game that proved you don’t need combat when you have the crushing weight of historical guilt.
Avowed (Upcoming)
The Elder Scrolls game Todd Howard would prefer you not look at too closely. I have high hopes for this one!
The Outer Worlds 2 (Upcoming)
Expect more space capitalism, more snark, and hopefully more planets where everything wants to kill you.
Obsidian: Masters of the RPG genre, champions of “deep lore,” and forever the kings of “We Would’ve Needed More Time for That Feature.”
Troy Baker is like the Swiss Army knife of voice acting—if the Swiss Army knife were ridiculously charismatic and could sing like an indie rock star. This guy doesn’t just “play a role”; he becomes the role. Need a brooding antihero with a heart of gold? He’s Joel from The Last of Us. Want a flamboyant villain who radiates chaos? He’s Pagan Min from Far Cry 4. Oh, and don’t forget Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite—because apparently, existential crises sound better in his voice.
He’s also one of those rare voice actors who can make you laugh, cry, and question your life choices in a single scene. And if he’s not stealing the show in a video game, he’s probably serenading a room full of fans with his guitar because, yes, of course, he’s also a musician. Honestly, the guy’s talent feels like a glitch in the matrix—someone nerf him already!
In summary, Troy Baker is what happens when you max out charisma, talent, and versatility in a character creator and then break the game.
